15 dead as blast rocks explosives factory in northwestern Bulgaria

Oct. 2, 2014: An unidentified relative cries after hearing the confirmation of a death at the ammunition factory in the village of Gorni Lom, some 120 kms, 75 miles north of the capital
(AP Photo)

Police and firefighters trucks are seen on the road that leads to an ammunition factory in the village of Gorni Lom, some 120 kms, 75 miles north of the capital Sofia, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014. Fifteen people were confirmed dead in a blast at the explosives decommissioning factory in Gorni Lom Bulgaria. Civil Defense chief Nikolai Nikolov said Thursday that thirteen men and two women perished in the wake of the blast that left craters. The explosion occurred late Wednesday and police said smaller explosions continued for several hours. (AP Photo)
(The Associated Press)

Empty wooden boxes are seen on the road that leads towards an ammunition factory in the village of Gorni Lom, some 120 kms, 75 miles north of the capital Sofia, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014. Fifteen people were confirmed dead in a blast at the explosives decommissioning factory in Gorni Lom Bulgaria. Civil Defense chief Nikolai Nikolov said Thursday that thirteen men and two women perished in the wake of the blast that left craters. The explosion occurred late Wednesday and police said smaller explosions continued for several hours. (AP Photo)
(The Associated Press)

SOFIA, Bulgaria – Fifteen people were confirmed dead Thursday in a blast at an explosives decommissioning factory in northwestern Bulgaria.

Civil Defense chief Nikolai Nikolov said that thirteen men and two women perished in the wake of the blast that left craters. Three others were taken to hospital with injuries.

The explosion occurred near the village of Gorni Lom, some 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital, Sofia, late Wednesday. Police said smaller explosions continued for several hours.

At the time of the blast, 12 workers and three people from the plant management were at the site decommissioning Greek land mines.

Nikolov said the cause of the explosions at the factory, owned by a private Bulgarian company, was probably "human error."

The blast was so strong that several buildings at the plant were razed to the ground, Nikolov said, adding that the devastation at the site was so complete that "no traces whatsoever of bodies could be seen."

The government declared a day of national mourning on Friday, and the political parties suspended their campaigns for parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for Sunday.

The plant is located in northwestern Bulgaria, considered to be the poorest region in the European Union with an unemployment rate of above 20 percent. Labor Minister Yordan Hristoskov said on Thursday that workers at the plant had received a monthly wage of 120 euros ($154).